LSDA Northern Ireland

LSDA Northern Ireland (LSDA NI) was part of the Learning and Skills Network (LSN), with a role to support all forms of post-16 education and training in Northern Ireland.

LSDA Northern Ireland operated from an office in Alfred House, Alfred Street, Belfast. It supported Further Education Colleges, Training providers and Community Providers who offered government funded training and vocational education courses in Northern Ireland.

Established in 2003 as part of the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), LSDA Northern Ireland's core funding came from the Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland (DEL). When LSDA was split into the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) and Learning and Skills Network (LSN) in 2006, LSDA Northern Ireland retained its title and function, as part of LSN.

LSDA NI published and distributed two quarterly periodicals in paper and electronic format, with an average paper circulation of 1000 copies:

LSDA NI also published an occasional publication: ESOLutions - a glossy, full-colour with features relating to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

In September 2008, LSDA NI signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate with NALA, Ireland's National Adult Literacy Agency. The objective was to enhance opportunities for people with literacy needs across the island of Ireland. The memorandum outlined an agreement between the two agencies to cooperate, share experience and organise joint conferences.

This collaboration culminated in a cross-border Essential Skills Conference, held at Ballymascanlon House, Dundalk on Wednesday 26 November 2008. The Stormont Minister for Employment and Learning, Reg Empey attended with his Republic of Ireland counterpart, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey. One hundred delegates heard from literacy champions such as Dr Rosie Wickert of Southern Cross University, Australia and Dr Ursula Howard of the University of London, previously director of the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy. An example of best practice for integrating literacy into the workplace was given by Patrick McCartan, CBE, Chairman of Belfast Health and Social Services Board. Kathleen Cramer, Manager of the Youth Training and Development Centre in Newbridge, gave an account of how her centre applied the integrated approach. Blathnaid Ni Chinneide from the National Adult Literacy Agency described NALA’s experience in this area and outlined guidelines for integrating literacy into training and further education.

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